Relive Germany's historic 7-1 thrashing of Brazil

Germany’s Miroslav Klose celebrates his record-setting goal in the first half. He’s now scored more than any other player in World Cup history. It was his 16th. (Tim Groothuis, USA TODAY Sports)

FINAL: Germany 7-1 Brazil

The ref finally blows the whistle on a historic result for Germany. This game was over within 20 minutes and will rock the world of Brazilian soccer for years to come.

Luiz Felipe Scolri’s team selection and tactics will be questioned, and rightfully so. Ferandinho and Hulk did not compete well enough in the midfield or contribute defensively, which left the Brazilian backline exposed. The back four is not absolved, however. Fullbacks Marcelo and Maicon where caught out of position far too often, and David Luiz and Dante were clearly not on the same page.

Germany put on a fantastic display and were clinical in the final third. Sami Khedira was the engine in the midfield and his runs overwhelmed Brazil’s defenders. Thomas Mueller scored yet another goal and Miroslav Klose made history. All around, it was a fantastic performance for Jogi Low’s team.

GOAL! Germany 7-1 Brazil Oscar has gotten the Brazilians on the before right before the final whistle. Brazil finally beat the German’s offside trap and Oscar put the ball past Neuer for BRazil’s first goal.

GOAL! Germany 7-0 Brazil: The substitute Schurrle has put Brazil up against its biggest deficit in team history. The German winger found space behind his former club teammate, David Luiz, and put the ball past Julio Cesar for yet another goal.

Julian Draxler is on for Sami Khedira, whose runs from midfield played a big part in Germany’s onslaught early in the first half.

From Taylor Barnes in Brazil: On Copacabana beach, even the police and municipal guards on duty to patrol crowds have their eyes trained on the game being shown on a big screen. Light rain drizzles on fans as they drink caipirinhas on the sidewalk. “Oh my god, Brazil, please!” a fan in a Brazil flag shirt yells sadly.

GOAL! Germany 6-0 Brazil: Philipp Lahm found substitute Andre Schurrle with a square ball into the six-yard box, and the Chelsea man put it away calmly to put the Germans up by six goals. Brazil’s worst defeat was by the same score nearly 80 years ago at the hands of Uruguay.

The tournament’s all-time leading goal-scorer’s day is done after a record-breaking shift.

Brazil off to a bright start in second half

The game is all but decided but the Brazilians are showing a good effort early in the second half, and have gottn a couple of clear chances to get on the board. It’s hard to say whether Germany is actually trying at this point with their tickets to the final punched, but Scolari’s changes have fixed some of Brazil’s tactical problems. But that only makes Scolari’s naive choices before the game look worse.

Halftime changes

Ramires has come on for Hulk and Fernanidinho was replaced by Paulinho, which should help Brazil slow down the German midfield (although it probably doesn’t matter now).

The Germans have taken off Mats Hummel for Per Mertesacker in a cautionary move.

A goal by Thomas Mueller was bad, but Brazil could have come back from that. The one by Miroslav Klose was crushing. When Toni Kroos knocked in Nos. 3 and 4, some fans began leaving the stands.

And when Sami Khedira made it 5-0, all of Brazil was stunned into silence. Never had it trailed a World Cup game by four goals, let alone five. Its 39-year unbeaten streak on home soil is now in jeopardy, too.

Worst of all, its hopes for winning a World Cup in the country where soccer is as sacred as any religion, are all but gone.

Beating Germany was always going to be a challenge without Neymar and, more importantly, Thiago Silva. But the players talked such a good game that the country believed it. “Forca Neymar” became the mantra for an entire country, and when Brazil came out flying, it seemed as if this might be one of those magical, memorable days when a team that has no business winning somehow manages to do that.

And then came the onslaught. The players were so shocked that, after Kroos’ second goal, Julio Cesar could be seen begging his teammates to play defense.

Germany is a great team. There’s a reason it’s made it to the semifinals – or better – at every World Cup since 2002. But this is Brazil. Playing in Brazil. This kind of collapse just doesn’t happen.

But it did, and Brazil will be reliving the nightmare for years.

Fans of Brazil react while watching a broadcast of the 2014 World Cup semi-final against Germany at the Fan Fest in Brasilia. (Ueslei Marcelino, REUTERS)

Halftime — Germany 5-0 Brazil

The Brazilians lined up in a 4-2-3-1 at kick-off, but it’s been utter chaos ever since. Maicon is just freely roaming around, leaving space in behind for German midfielders bombing forward. Brazil’s centerbacks look as if they are allergic to each other. And its wingers have no interest in defending.

When Germany attacks, they are playing nine-on-two at times.

Big Phil Scolari has pulled all the right strings in his second stint as Brazil’s skipper, but he’s gotten his lineup and tactics horribly wrong in this one. He may be the scapegoat in Brazil for this embarrassment.

Jogi Low, on the other hand, can finally start to silence his critics back home. His decision to move Lahm to right back has energized this German squad.

Germany

Brazil

Shots (on goal)

10 (7)

2 (0)

Fouls

6

5

Possession

54 %

46 %

The Brazilians could use a second man in goal

Not even Tim Howard could have saved Brazil from this mass destruction #WorldCup#GER#BRA

GOAL! Germany 5-0 Brazil: The Germans are scoring for fun at this point. Sami Khedira is the latest to get on the scoresheet.

Much was made about Neymar’s absence, but the Brazilians are a mess without Thiago Silva.

GOAL! Germany 4-0 Brazil: If there was any doubt that the Germans were going to final, it has been put to rest. Fernandinho gave the ball away in his own zone, and Toni Kroos made him pay with his second in a matter of minutes.

GOAL! Germany 1-0 Brazil: Thomas Mueller found himself open at the far post on the end of a German corner and — as he’s done so many times in his young World Cup career — he put it in the back of the net.

So much for nerves. Both teams are on the front foot, trying to break at pace whenever the ball is won in the midfield. Germany has had the best chance, but Sami Khedira’s shot was blocked inside the penalty box.

KICKOFF

Brazil and Germany have kicked things off in the 2014 World Cup semifinals. From the jump, Brazil are putting pressure on the Germans, trying to win the ball back high up the pitch.

France was content to sit back and soak up pressure against Germany; let’s see how the Germans deal with Brazil’s pressing.

From Nancy Armour, on-site in Brazil: Even from afar, Neymar is still Brazil’s biggest star.

Neymar is at his home in Guaruya, Sao Paulo, recuperating from the broken vertebrae that knocked him out of the World Cup. But Brazil fans are wearing masks with his face for the semifinal against Germany, and the entire Brazil team arrived at the Estadio Mineirao wearing white hats with “Forca Neymar” on the front. Even Big Phil was sporting one.

From Nancy Armour onsite in Belo Horizonte, Brazil: For some Brazil fans, a glimpse of the team bus is enough.

Thousands gathered under a highway overpass near the team hotel Tuesday, and more lined the route to the stadium. Just the sight of the bus was enough to prompt cheering and waving of flags or yellow jerseys. When one of the players spotted the fans as he left the hotel, he raised his arm and gave a thumbs up.